It's Official: Orgasms Are Good for Your Brain

Study Confirms What Pioneering Sex Positive Retailer Has Known For Years

SAN FRANCISCO (August 7th, 2013): Good Vibrations has long espoused that the biggest sex organ is your brain, and now there is evidence that orgasms are actually good for it too. Whether you are trying to have your first orgasm or are curious about the variety of climaxes available to you, Good Vibrations, the trusted San Francisco-based company that takes pride in providing accurate information on sexuality and toys for grown-ups, is an accessible resource for sexual health and pleasure.

Professor Barry Komisaruk at Rutgers University measured the blood flow to the brains of women during climax and found that orgasm increases brain activity throughout the entire brain (as opposed to specific regions). When compared to other brain-boosting activities, such as crossword puzzles, the orgasm yields superior benefits.

"Mental exercises increase brain activity but only in relatively localized regions. Orgasm activates the whole. At orgasm we see a tremendous increase in the blood flow (to the brain). It brings all the nutrients and oxygenation to the brain," he told The Times. Komisaruk also found that orgasm inhibits pain, which has interesting implications for its practical use -- though this will come as no surprise to the legions of women who have used vibrators to cope with their menstrual cramps.

Now that we know that orgasms not only feel good but are even better for you than previously known, how can we best achieve them, and what exactly are we looking for?

"No two orgasms are exactly alike," says Good Vibrations Staff Sexologist Dr. Carol Queen. "Some are overpowering and involve the entire body, some feel very genitally centered even though they are in fact occurring in the brain itself, and others are barely there -- some women are not even certain whether they've climaxed at all. Learning more about orgasm, arousal, and pleasure anatomy lets us optimize these sensations and get more out of partner sex and masturbation. We've always known orgasm was good for you, and Dr. Komisaruk's important research continues to elucidate the many reasons why."

Students of pleasure can find answers on Good Vibrations’ website (see: “What is an Orgasm?”) and at various workshops on the subject, such as “I'll Have What She's Having: All About Orgasm!” presented by sex educator Reid Mihalko on Friday, August 16th, at the Good Vibrations Polk Street store in San Francisco. Reid offers pragmatic tools, tips and tricks to explore, understand and become proficient in the art of the climax. Carol Queen answers the perennial question “how do I have stronger orgasms” in her “Ask the Doc” column in Good Vibrations Online Magazine.

If a workshop doesn’t fit your schedule, you can get top quality information from Sex Educator Sales Associates in the stores, or call center support staff on the phone. A simple search online will yield a bounty of options for the orgasm-curious. Good Vibrations was founded on the belief that “pleasure is your birthright!” and access to quality information is fundamental to each person’s ability to discover their own unique sexual self.

ABOUT GOOD VIBRATIONSGood Vibrations is the San Francisco-based retailer trusted for more than three decades to provide a comfortable, safe environment for finding sex-positive products and educational materials to enhance one's sex life. Good Vibrations offers products through its website, goodvibes.com and retail stores in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland, CA and in Brookline, MA.